Peggy Rea Dead at 89 from Congestive Heart Failure

Peggy Rea has died in Toluca Lake, Calif.. She was a character actress who starred in many television shows and movies in her 45-year career. Peggy Rea died of congestive heart failure on Feb. 5, 2011, at the age of 89 as reported on the OMG website.

On the "Dukes of Hazzard," she played Lulu, wife of Boss Hogg and sister to Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. In that show, she has a soft spot for the Duke boys, their cousin Daisy and Uncle Jesse. The "Dukes of Hazzard" is in rerun status, so you can catch it on CMT television.

Other actors from that hit show who are dead include Denver Pyle, who played Uncle Jesse, and Sorrell Booke, who was the legendary Boss Hogg. Pyle died in December of 1997 while Booke passed in 1994. There is a video of Boss and Lulu linked here; it's the episode where the car dealer sold the car she wanted.

Rea played the mom of Ed Begley's character in "Meego." There are a few videos of the show on YouTube and one can be found here. The show, which aired on CBS in 1997, was canceled midway in that premiere season. The show starred Bronson Pinchot, who was a shape-shifting alien who was the nanny to the family.

In the television series "The Waltons," Rea played Cousin Rose who was in love with Stanley Perkins. In the series, Rea has heart problems and does not want to marry Perkins. I have included the link here so fans can see the true magic this couple brought to the screen. The conversation they share on the bridge in the clip is very romantic, and when he asks one more time if she will be his bride, happiness ensues. The clip is numbered four of four but the other three are there as well; together they complete the episode "The Heartache." This episode is one of my favorites from the series.

IMDB reports Peggy also had recurring roles on "All in the Family" and "Step by Step" but recently, fans remember her for her role as Jean Kelly in "Grace under Fire." The actress was the mother-in-law of Grace, played by Brett Butler. There was a hilarious rivalry between Butler and Rea that brought laughs to many one of my favorite episodes, including the Holiday one, which is on YouTube.